Bedford, The Promenade 1897

Photo ref: 39947

That view is still majestic, almost as much as my first days in the Lower School, as it was then, in 1950, when I moved up from the "Inky" as the prep. school was called. Everything was so well ordered, so old and really quite scary. There were so many rules to follow and the punishments could be quite severe if you transgressed.. Luckily, the worst I ever got was a detention. Others were not so lucky and could not sit comfortably for some while.

In the 50s in School holiday time, I and my cousins used to visit matinees in all three Cinemas. The Picturedrome (although it went by another rude name, informally, something to do with small biting insects), the Plaza and the Granada. All gone but not forgotten. The Wurlitzer from the Granada was saved and is now as far as I can find, being restored in Barnsley.

I was evacuated to Bedford in 1939 aged 7 and stayed first of all with a Mrs Drake ,the wife of a captain Drake who was in command of a ship called the Warspite. I remember it was off Goldington rd. by the school where all the evacuees were taken and sat around the central hall to be selected and billeted with various families. Mrs Drake had a housemaid and I remember the air raid sirens sounding at 11.00 am ...see more

My mother used to work at a factory called "proper pride" making lingerie does anyone remember it I think it was in mile road, it would be lovely to hear from anyone who knew it. My mother was called maria longo